3rd Birthday and I feel really really bad!!! (bit long winded - sorry

[supersonic]

Its my DD birthday on the 26th June so far only 2 children can come (3yrs and 41/2 yrs old) - there wasn't going to be many children (I don't know that many people with children - well not that well anyway)but the three that were going to come were poepl molly had wanted there - I feel really bad - it is hardly worth doing the pass the parcel stuff with really only one child interested as the 4 yr old isn't too bothered. The other thing is they are both boys and I can see Molly being left out as they go off and play and be boys whilst Molly does her thing. I know this sounds really petty but i feel soooo bad for her. We were going to invite a few adults (thy don't have children) and of the course the grand parents so perhaps she will be happy with this can anyone please assure me my DD won't feel like I have compeltely let her down and has anyone any ideas to make the day a bit more enjoyable. I am sorry for going on - I am all in a tizz - HELP!!!!

Poor you. I'm sure it will be fine, but I can completely relate to what you're saying. Is there any chance you could invite a few young-at-heart adults and warn them in advance that they have to play musical statues and so on? I can see that Pass the Parcel might be a bit of a damp squib, but I wouldn't bet on the 4 year old not being interested. I think as long as there's some sense of occasion (cake, candles, singing and all that) then she'll feel like she's had a party. There's loads of time for her to have more wild parties!

I can remember dd being asked who was coming to her party and she said, very matter-of-factly, "well, I haven't got much friends really", and I felt so sorry for her. Now she's 6 it's a different story I can assure you

Hi supersonic. For my son's 3rd birthday party we just invited 2 friends over for a special birthday tea and playing afterwards. Make or buy a cake and play some games with them and she'll be happy, I bet you! Or could you make it a picnic in the park? Then you've got swings and things. She won't feel you've let her down, I'm sure - she won't even know what a birthday party is supposed to be like will she?

Ahhh, bless you but it'll be fine. As long as the most important person in her world, you, ar there and she gets spoilt and made to feel special on her day it'll be fine. Ice-cream, presents, girly fuss and frollicks and she'll go to be exhausted and smiling on her big day

Email me your address and I'll send her a present if I may.

TC x

Thank you so much - I feel alittle beter now - I think I am going to ask or perhaps tell the gransparents they will have the chance to act 3 yrs old again. Perhaps it could be fun! Because there are only two other children do you think should I let them play as they want and then see how things go with the party games or is it better to have a 'plan' of what happens when - Iam so poo at this sort of thing!!!!!

I'm sure it will be fine, chin up! I would let the children do their own thing to start with and then maybe do a game or two before tea, just to give it a bit of structure, maybe? I don't think it's worth planning a lot for young children, it's just when you have hordes of 7 year olds you need a firm plan

We just had 3 kids for ds' 3rd birthday recently. I was feeling bad as I don't have that many friends with children the same age, and as he was at a new preschool he hadn't yet made any proper friends, and I wasn't that keen on the idea of lots of kids and parents that I didn't know. We decided to make a virtue of it being small, and we went and did that china painting thing where they can do finger painting on mugs etc, and then had a party lunch at home and let them play. Then we had a separate birthday tea with the grandparents the next day, so he had a full weekend of partying. TBH, I think that for this year, the fuss we made of him was all he was really after!

Just let them do their own thing but have a trick up your sleeve if the boys do end up playing on their own. If it's a nive day it could ivolve fishing game in paddling pool or something?